I have a 10 month old and a 2 year old. You DO NOT WANT A LIGHT SOFA if you plan to allow your children in the room with this sofa. You also are better off not having a fabric. If you want this sofa (covering at least) to be with you longer than a year or two, spring for leather. It is the only fabric that is truely durable and even with leather, go dark. Light it light, and light is not for a family. If this doesn't match your room, repaint otherwise you're throwing your money away and should just buy a cheap used couch until your kids are much older. I bought the Jasper from R&B 2.5 years ago in a dark grey. The fabric has held up okay but the sofa itself has not. I would not recommend R&B sofas. They are really mid-range quality. If you are going to do leather, which you should, you should also spend the money on something with quality construction.

I'd pay a little more and go dark. Good quality fabric is suprisingly forgiving.

We haven't had a sofa from R&B but our wood purchases have been top notch.

We have always had a light colored sofa and our son is now 3 1/2. I won't tell anyone how to parent their children, but we've found setting some boundaries about proper use of furniture has gone a long way - eat at the table, not on the sofa - no shoes on the furniture - juice in cups with leak-proof lids. While we haven't had any major incidents, a steam cleaner is always a good back-up. =)

Have you considered micro-fiber couches? They last and last and last! I've seen one go through party-crazy adults and a toddler or two. You will probably need to go to a local furniture store like a living spaces and get one customized, but these are well worth the money!

We have a Robert Craymer sofa in dark green suede that we found on craigslist for about $300. It lived in a family with kids before us and we've had it with the toddlers and it's held up amazingly - even when dark blue inkpen got on it. Good quality suede is amazing.

It sounds counter intuitive, but white slipcover is great with kids - it will get dirty, but you can wash and bleach it (with anything from sunlight to evil chlorine).
I love my Ikea Karlstad with legs form Uncle Bob:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67567677/sofa-legs-ikea-karlstad?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=karlstad+legs&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=ZZ&ga_min=0&ga_max=0&ga_ref=auto3&ga_search_type=all

We have throws covering both of our couches to protect them from the kids and the cats. It's worked for 9 years now. Not a stain on either couch. Easily removed when we have guests over.

Irrespective of kids, I would warn against a fabric like the trip, which is largely cotton-based. This fabric has a tendency to lose its tightness and to appear like it sags. Microfiber, which is synthetic and much tighter, is the way to go. It will hold up to regular use and spills much much better.

Hi there. I don't know if you were aware, but the Hess sofa, in addition to the Fifth Avenue family of leathers (the leather it is shown stocked in), is also available in several other leather families, including Bison, Brighton, Duval, Elmo, Flagstaff, Shimmer, and Sierra. In total, there are over 60 different leather selections to choose from. If you go to the website, and look at the Hess in leather, and choose "Customize It" under "See All Options", you can use the draping tool to look at all the leather choices. Maybe there's a color for you in there, somewhere. Good luck!

Microfiber is the bomb. Dark colors work too. Microfiber in a dark color is a dream team for toddlers.

You actually might be able to get away with white leather if it's prepared correctly. Some types are treated to be wiped off easily. Their texture is similar to vinyl. Other (softer) leathers are more absorbent and will stain just as badly as fabric. Grill your salesperson about this if you're really considering it.

You can do all you want to prevent food, juice, shoes, etc. on the couch but you know what you can't stop? Pee. If you are potty training a child you should expect at least once and probably many more times that your kid will Pee on your couch. He/she will be absorbed in a book/tv/playing etc. and then there will be a wet spot. Before you buy something ask yourself "if there was pee on this, how would i clean it?"

In addition our son has dropped food and drink, and colored on our couch cushions when we weren't looking. We are lucky that our couch hides a lot of wear and the covers can actually be washed but it is still looking a little shabby.

If I had to do it again I'd probably go leather.

We bought the Room & Board Murray (looks just like the Jasper) in Delamont Charcoal and LOVE IT. It's $100 less than the base-model Jasper and the fabric is amazing. Dark, totally stain-resistant, and durable, yet still comfortable.

Check it out the next time you're at R & B - it looks great on the sofa - very clean and upscale mid-century, but super strong.

Microfiber is definitely good with kids. Easy to wipe clean, but also machine washable. I had a light fabric sofa and the covers were machine washable. After awhile though it started looking worn and pilling. Leather is another way to go.

We bought a leather sofa (Ikea) when I first became pregnant. That first baby just turned 17, and the leather is still in perfect condition!

On the other hand - I wish I had a good excuse to replace that sofa... but cannot rationalize based on condition.

I agree with the people who suggested getting something with a slipcover. Whatever you buy is going to get spilled on, food mashed in it, jumped on, chewed up by pets, and just generally lived on.

By the way, be careful about flame retardant treatments on sofa fabrics, which can be toxic -- especially to small children. More info here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/opinion/sunday/kristof-are-you-safe-on-that-sofa.html?_r=0. Check out some eco-friendly non-toxic options at http://greensofas.com/.

[Of course, you could always do what your grandparents did, and cover your sofa with clear plastic that stays on for 50 years. :)]

We have an IKEA top-grain leather sofa (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80119463/) It is not my first pick in style (we have a lot of mid century pieces) BUT it is indestructible. Shows no dirt. We've had it for 5 years and have two preschoolers.

I would say, whatever you do, AVOID microfiber! Impossible to spot-clean without leaving water rings. I don't think it's even the kids' fault that ours look so bad! We don't let them eat food or drink anything in the living room. They're light in color and pick up dye from clothing, and who knows what else. I'm having ours professionally cleaned by a different company this time around, but I'm not holding out a lot of hope that they'll ever look that great again. But what the hey...it was a pre-kids purchase. Live and learn.

The Jasper comes with slipcovers and the Hess comes in leather. Either one is good for messy households. I have old pets - enough said. I have a couch with heavy white slipcovers and it's awesome - throw it in the washer, with some bleach if needed. Still looks good after 8 years. I also have a good quality leather couch in a caramel color. The leather has handled multiple problems with grease, accidents and spills by cleaning up with baby powder (oily spills) or water + dish soap, dabbed patiently. Good as new. We moved several times and the white couch and leather both looked great in every space.

Check with the company if they have any crypton or nanotex treated fabrics. Crypton has a moisture barrier on the back of the fabric so you can scrub away on the surface and not have to worry about water getting into the cushion. nanotex is similar but is a top coat that repels moisture - so spills will actually roll off the cushion if you get to them quickly. lots of fabric companies have their own brand name of the treatments above too.

I agree with AmberM about microfiber. Spot-cleaning just ends up making them look shabby & dirty. I also think they look cheap. We have a giant Bernhardt with textured, dimensional fabric. The pillow & cushion covers all zip off (but I wouldn't call them slip covers, so I strip them and machine wash & dry them every 8 weeks or so. With a 5 year old & 3 year old frequent washing is essential. Our couches are about 15 years old, and they have only begun to show their age in the last 2 years or so.

I agree with others than leather is the way to go. We have two lower-end Ikea sofas that have held up beautifully with a kid and large dog. We don't have a dining area, per se, so we eat in our living room a lot and my daughter spills something on the sofa at least twice a week. Nothing to do but wipe it up with a cloth.

Choose the sofa fabric you love most and order the sofa in it, with some sort of stain repellent application. At the same time order washable slipcovers for the sofa from either Room and Board, or a reputable slipcover fabricator, preferably one they can recommend. This will provide you with double stain protection. Unless you want slipcovers that make your new sofa look different, make sure the slipcover fabricator creates covers which are as close as possible to the design of your sofa. If throw pillows come with the couch, make sure they have or can be ordered with zippers so that the covers can be removed and dry cleaned.

Leather is a good solution and is largely impervious to stains but has that cold feeling against the skin when you first sit on it.

Good Luck!

The better couch choice from DWR is the Simpatico - the Reid is much lower and not as comfy. We have a 3yr old with the Simpatico and it's doing great! Pillows come off for landing stations on the ground or after he goes to bed - fits two adults to full out lounge for movie time.
Great quality and so glad we got it after my year of stalking it in the store.

I would try to find a good, local furniture store where you can order just about any piece of furniture in just about any fabric that the store stocks, and even some it doesn't, for a price.

Talk to a knowledgeable salesperson about your needs--sturdiness, stain and liquid-resistance and get their advice on what fabrics would work best. You might even consider a subtle print or pattern, as they can really help to hide stains. A good salesperson will be able to tell you exact how to clean various fabrics, as well.

Then, if you are lucky, the store will carry a sofa you like and a fabric you like and you can order exactly what you want and need. If not, you will have at least learned what fabrics will work best and look for those as you continue to shop.

Don't rule anything out completely. As one previous poster pointed out, some leathers are treated to be stain resistant. Some posters have loved microfiber, some have hated it--remember that everything comes in various price and quality points. Good microfiber may well function better than a lower quality microfiber. And while cost can be a good indicator, sometimes it isn't.

If any Crate & Barrel styles appeal to you, I just ordered a Lounge sectional in a gorgeous custom fabric (it reminds me of really heavy, low nap velvet drapes?) (and is on sale for another couple days). Their stock microfiber looked cheap and the sales associate said it stained and was hard to clean. But for the custom he said liquids bead and dog slobber/muddy paws would scrape off when dried, and that the same fabric still looked new after almost 2 years on a floor model. He really knew what he was talking about and wasn't upselling. I think the fabric name is McCreary in Vocal (style), graphite (color).

We've had our modern white leather couches and a blue/grey slip-covered sectional since our boys (now age 5 and 6) were babes. I interchanged the leather and fabric sofas between the living and family room depending on my mood. Although we strictly enforced a "no eating/drinking" rule on the couches, they have been smeared with every bodily fluid that comes out of little boys when they are sick or haven't quite mastered toilet-training or are just plain being rough and tumble little boys. I'm happy to report that the leather and fabric couches still look amazing so I say go with what you like.

Leather wipes clean but will show scratches from hot wheels (or adult jeans with sequined pockets) being roughly dragged through it.

If you don't mind the thought of washing slipcovers, then go with it. You will likely have to wash more often with lighter fabrics. I personally avoided stain repellent because of the risk of toxic off-gassing. (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/is-there-a-nontoxic-stainresis-93546). I only washed mine on an as needed basis. Sometimes, I would go for months without washing them particularly in the summer. During the cold and flu season, every week or so.

For those who have had bad experiences with microfiber; clean the thing with rubbing alcohol, not water! (A tip I learned on this site.) We were considering having our microfiber American Upholstery sleeper-sofa nuked from orbit, despite the fact that it does make a supremely comfortable bed due to to the water stains and other horrors. But after we cleaned it with a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol and some towel rags, it was restored!

I would not buy an expensive sofa around toddlers, period. Toddlers turn into grade schoolers who have rough-and-tumble friends and thence to teenagers, who sit down heavily and wear video-game nests into the thing. Buy a sofa that you'll be happy to scrub vomit and dog hair off of, and try to relax. Save your money for a fine piece when your nest is empty.

We have a (similar appearance, but much much cheaper) sofa from Ikea. We got it when our LO was under a year and wanted something almost identical to the one you shared. Our sofa has a removable cover that can be washed (genius!!!) and the pillows themselves are wrapped in some sort of waterproof fabric under the cover. It has really held up well and came in at around $900 new. Highly recommend something similar.

With a toddler, I'd recommend picking up a nice sofa at Goodwill or Craigslist. Something nice and bouncy. You can have your classy sofa later.

We have mostly mid-century modern decor and purchased 2 modern Ikea white leather sofas 5 years ago for our family room. Two toddlers later and we still LOVE LOVE LOVE them! Almost anything wipes right off with some leather love wipes . . . even orange colored pencil.

We have in the playroom a leather sofa my parents had when I was a kid. It still looks great. I recommend in a house with young kids a good quality leather sofa in a classic style and neutral color. They are really sturdy, stains wipe off, and they are hypoallergenic which is great if one of your kids turns out to have allergies. If something happens to your sofa it can be refinished for less than the cost of replacing it.

I absolutely LOATHE my ultrasuede sofa! Words cannot describe how much I hate it. Every little drop of drool shows and yes, these drops will come out but the major drawback is your sofa is constantly wet. You have to take a wet towel to get them out and then you have the pleasure of looking at these water stains for tne next couple of hours. Then it starts all over - I can't keep up.

I'm being forced to go the opposite route - I'm looking high and low for decent-looking washable throws to cover my sofa. Anything is better than looking at that dreadful ultrasuede.